It's Simple...really!

The book I am currently reading I found on a clearance rack at Books-a-Million...it's called Simplify Your Life and the author is Elaine St. James.
It is a very easy read...It has 100 ways to slow down and enjoy things that really matter...It is 100 chapters or ideas expressed in a couple of pages for each!
This is an older book, so some of the ideas are outdated but many are still relevant especially in today's economic climate!

The author started by deciding that her life had become unmanageable and she set out for weekend retreat to repair the damage...out of the experience she changed her life and this book was born. I love the ideas...and I was proud to realize I was already doing or not doing many of the ideas...
I no longer wear clothing that needs to be dry cleaned and I am building a simpler wardrobe that includes separates that I can dress up or down. I no longer need as many clothes as before.

Begin by simplifying your schedule...Say no to things that you no longer enjoy doing but feel a misplaced sense of obligation to continue to do.

I found this blog called Zen Habits that did a great review of this book and you may enjoy some of their ideas.

The Sunday Salon...or Here's What I am Reading!

I just finished Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones...loved this strange little book and it's story but will blog about it later...however I disagree with the great Anna Quindlen's quote...
"Destined to become a classic in the vein of To Kill a Mockingbird..."
My quote..."Are you kidding me?"

I just finished Bill Hybels' book the Volunteer Revolution unleashing the Power of Everybody
I enjoyed this book and for me it fit nicely in the direction God is pushing er directing me!

I also just finished re-reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis...again for obvious reasons...
if you ever need a fresh perspective in regards to your faith or lack thereof...this is a must read!

My best read this week is The Green Bible...I now own about 30 Bibles...I have my first Bible from my parents...the King James Version which I can never make sense of and then my second Bible the New Testament Good News version which had much hipper and easier to understand language and ...many others.
I have a Serendipity Bible...I have used for small groups and then a Women's Study Bible which has studies geared for yes, you're ahead of me here....women!
I have a copy of The Bible for dummies...which again, you're right there...for dummies!
I am all of those things.

But, this The Green Bible is beautiful in the fact that it is Environmentally friendly- cotton and linen cover, recycled paper, soy-based ink, and water-based coating.
It contains inspirational writings by scholars and leaders including one of my favorites Brian McLaren author of Everything Must Change.
It contains a Trail guide for further study...but it is called The Green letter edition because it has over 1000 verses highlighted in green print to support the thought that God cares greatly that we take care of His creation!
Have a beautiful Sunday...as we enjoy God's creation!

What Does the Lord your God Require? Of Me...Ronda?

I am still trying to get used to this little-itty-bitty computer we have bought...
small screen...small keyboard...I think the type is itty-bitty, too! (just a sec)

Better...
We are still in Jacksonville...that's not the problem...the problem is my lack of control and lack of schedule thereof!
I make plans for Tampa...like our church...I don't pack clothes because we will be back for Sunday...and then we aren't there.
Then we are given a schedule...which every trade except ours ignores...and then the general contractor uses us to push the other trades back on schedule!

What all this means...we have missed church and it has forced us to be responsible for our own worship. I am used to doing devotions...for myself or leading others but to sit by myself and worship God is not easy...it is why we have churches in the first place.

I have never been a person who thinks you only worship corporately on Sunday Morning in a Church sanctuary...I have found this is the easiest way for me. But...I know too many people who worship differently from me in their own way...and I acknowledge authenticity when I see it...

I have been forced to spend alone time with God and question some of my actions and realize I have been allowing myself to be complacent in my role of worshiping God.I am thinking of that Easy Button commercial...I am not proud of this but I am honest when I say...I have gone to church...check that off the list...now what else is on my to-do list! I am also questioning what I think God expects from me at worship...so I have been listening...just listening...quietly listening to God...
my answer so far is... He expects MORE from me.

I fear change...and change is coming. I don't adjust well to change...this tiny keyboard is an example...but real change is what is required of me...

Have a great weekend...Thank you, God.

Drinks and Laptops...Not a Good Mix...

So... we are in Jacksonville...here on business...Hubby had the laptop at a restaurant and he spilt his drink all over it...so laptop is in the hospital and not expected to make it!

So, we have been without internet for about two days...not pretty!

I have been cranky...possible detoxing from blogging withdrawals! We bought a Aprire One Acer...I think it's called a Netbook...I like it, although it is tiny! I need it for email, transferring funds between accounts and OH... BLOGGING!



I realized I had a problem when I was at the pool and there was a preteen sitting by the pool with her laptop and it was all I could do not to try and take it from her...



Hi...my name is Ronda and I realize I am powerless over blogging and I am an addict!



I have been busy reading and I have read some great books...

My friend Carrie at Candid Carrie says she only writes non-fiction and I have read two memoirs back-to-back that reminded me so much of her and her sense of humor...I can see us all reading her books some day!

I read Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking ...this is her memoir detailing her life with celebrity parents, addiction to drugs and alcohol and her treatment for manic depression. It doesn't sound like it would be funny but it was very funny!

The second book I read was also a memoir and it was I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron ...this is a favorite author of mine and I love her real life story...she writes from her heart and she also happens to be hysterically funny!

I have loved biographies , autobiographies and memoirs since third grade when I read all the Presidents biographies which turned into a love of history. I now love to read memoirs because it's the authors version of history that is told and I find that an interesting perspective.

I have read the novel The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold for Blogging book club and I am dying to blog about it but I won't... I'll wait until after my guest blogger Rhonda from A Day in Rhonda's Life blogs first about it....
I will say that the real life story of Alice Sebold sounds more interesting to me than her novel...she has quite the survival story and I find that very inspiring!

Enjoy Your Day!

We are headed back to Jacksonville, Florida...Here is the view of the condo we rented...with NO Internet!

Starbucks...close by though...
Coffee and Blogging...my favorite!

The condo is on the inter coastal and the area below is a nice area to walk our dogs!

Have a great weekend!

What Do You Think?

... And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

I am going to change my blog and wanted some input...

So... what do you think?

The Lovely Bones